Tools

Cross-Platform IDEs and Komodo Dragons

By Adrian Bridgwater, March 13, 2013

Multi-language IDE now optimized for OS X, Windows, or Linux

ActiveState has announced the release of its Komodo IDE 8 multi-language integrated development environment. Along with a new interface, version 8 sports new cross-platform optimization for OS X, Windows, and Linux.

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The team is most excited about the updates to editing and workflow; each workspace component featured in Komodo can now be undocked and moved freely for more flexibility.

Users now have the ability to detach individual side pane tabs (Places, Code Browser, Debug, Find Results, Breakpoints, etc.) into their own separate window, so you can now put your debugging pane on a completely separate monitor screen (if you have one).

Komodo development lead at ActiveState Todd Whiteman highlights the fact that commonly used code snippets are now automatically inserted to save time. For enhanced file management, all of the user's open files are now organized in a side pane and sorted by language.

Whiteman blogs as follows, "We've revamped the Komodo user interface, you'll notice a new Komodo logo, the toolbars, status bars, and side panes have all been updated, the editor schemes have been tweaked, and we'll continue to improve and modify the styling throughout the Komodo 8 release series. We've also kept around the old Komodo 7 styling for those that prefer a dash of color — simply choose the Classic icon set in Komodo's appearance preferences, or try one of the other myriad of new icon sets we now include in Komodo."

NOTE: Komodo IDE 8 also adds support for the Laravel Blade PHP framework — and Sass, an extension of CSS3.

"These additions reflect our commitment to the rapid changes in the development world," notes Jeff Hobbs, ActiveState CTO and VP of Engineering. "Komodo IDE is trusted for a wide variety of applications, from scientific programming in Python to dynamic web pages in PHP and CSS."

In addition to highlighting retina display support for Mac OS X, Hobbs also points to Komodo's design evolution and says that his firm has always been about embracing change. The firm says that every Komodo release is a big deal, but this one's really going to be a killer.

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